NEP reason behind UM’s falling standards

Race-based admission quotas and political interference had caused UM's poor global standing, says a World Bank report.

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim blamed the race-based affirmative actions of the New Economic Policy (NEP) for the dwindling standards of Universiti Malaya (UM).

A recent World Bank study said race-based admission quotas and political interference had caused UM’s poor global standing, something Anwar said was the by-product of the NEP which was only used to enrich Malay cronies.

“UM’s falling ranking is because it does not prioritise academic excellence but racial interests,” the former deputy prime minister told a press conference in his office in Parliament here.

UM, once considered a prestigious institute of higher learning, is now falling way behind in the global ranking while universities from neighbouring countries have taken over.

The World Bank study further stated that Singapore’s decision to prioritise research, keep English as the medium of instruction and maintain a merit-based admissions policy have all contributed to the success of the National University of Singapore.

It further said the NEP made Bumiputeras less competitive as the policy created more scholarships for them, special programmes to facilitate their entry into higher education institutions, and the use of the Malay language in place of English in the entire education system.

“Over time, they secured almost all senior management, administrative, and academic positions,” the study said.

Anwar’s opposition coalition has pushed for a needs-based affirmative action policy to replace the NEP which it says is abused by the Umno-led BN for the benefit of cronies.

This, however, does not mean it rejected the special privileges of the Bumiputeras and said they would continue to defend it as it was enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

“But we must ensure that the excellent Malays in need of help are aided and not just the family members or cronies of Umno-Barisan Nasional,” he said.

The NEP was launched in 1971 to upgrade the socio-economic standards of the Bumiputeras. The policy came to an end in 1990 and was re-introduced as the National Development Policy in 1991.